Annie Gardner on Multihulls for February AYC Monthly Meeting

International sailor and broadcaster Annie Gardner will be our headline guest for the spring, giving us her view of the rise in multihull sailing, led by the intense interest in the coming America’s Cup competition in San Francisco.

You may remember Annie from her role on America³, the women’s America’s Cup contender. She was chosen for the team from 700 applicants and sailed as navigator on the boat. Her qualifications for the team: A Silver Medal in Olympic Boardsailing exhibition in the 1984 games and a host of national and international Hobie cat and boardsailing titles.

She’s continued to compete, and as recently as 2006 won a bronze medal in the women’s multihull class at the ISAF World Sailing Games and was a watch captain and helmswoman on the winning boat in the 2009 Chicago-Mackinac race. She teaches sailing and coaches, including for the annual North U-Offshore Racing School.

But in addition to the sailing resume, Annie’s dynamic personality and style has made her a natural in announcing and producing sailing television. For instance, she did TV color commentary on one of the AC 45 World Series weekends.